Summer is almost here! You and your family need a couple books to start the warmest months. Here are a few great reads for the beach, for by the pool, or for road trips. And, as school comes to an end, everyone can stay up a little later and read a little longer.
Ages 5-8
The Adventures of Wrong Man and Power Girl by C. Alexander London
All he wants is to be a hero, but he's the hero no one wants! This heartwarming story shows that dads can be superheroes–as long as they have their daughters by their side to do the real rescuing. When trouble is brewing, Wrong Man is there to make it worse. Luckily, Wrong Man's daughter is there to really save the day. He may be laden with mishaps, but Wrong Man is also full of heart.
The Runaway Beignet by Connie Morgan
You're not gonna taste this little beignet! In this New Orleans version of The Gingerbread Man, a lonely baker gets his wish when he sprinkles magic sugar on a beignet and it comes to life. The little beignet boy runs away, but is in danger of being eaten by the hungry people of New Orleans. He leads a wild chase through the French Quarter, visiting famous sights along the way.
Ages 9-12
I Am Gandhi: A Graphic Biography of a Hero by Brad Meltzer
Twenty-five comic book creators join forces to share the heroic story of Gandhi in this inspiring graphic novel biography. As a young man in India, Gandhi saw how people were treated unfairly. Refusing to accept injustice, he came up with a brilliant way to fight back through quiet, peaceful protest. Through his calm heroism, Gandhi changed the lives of millions and inspired civil rights movements all over the world.
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Josh Bell and his twin brother Jordan are unbeatable on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats that tell his family's story in verse in this fast and furious novel of family and brotherhood. Josh and Jordan must face growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's climax proves a game-changer for their entire family.
Ages 13-17
Never Ever by Sara Saedi
Wylie Dalton didn’t believe in fairy tales or love at first sight. Then she met a real-life Peter Pan, Phinn–confident, mature, and handsome–at a party. And, he shows her how to fly. Soon Wylie and her brothers are whisked away to a mysterious tropical island off the coast of New York City where nobody ages beyond 17 and life is a constant party. But the deeper Wylie falls for Phinn, the more she begins to discover secrets have been kept from her.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil beneath her hummed with magic. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother. Now Zélie has a chance to bring back magic by outwitting and outrunning the crown prince, who is determined to eradicate magic for good. The greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her own powers.
Ages 18 and Up
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
New York socialite Caroline’s life is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939. An ocean away, Kasia, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree days disappearing as she falls deeper into the underground resistance movement. Herta Oberheuser, a young German doctor, accepts a government medical position as her ticket out of a desolate life. These women’s lives collide and will never be the same.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Ernt Allbright, a former Vietnam POW, comes home from the war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he moves his family to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier. Thirteen-year-old Leni is caught in the middle of her parents’ stormy relationship, and dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family.
